To donnagray519
I disagree with you about the accents matter.
There are some people born elsewhere who live in USA, whether because they go to school in the States, have family there, have found a better job. Of course they would not speak English with a Yankee accent unless perhaps they acquired it after many years. One need not assume that any and all characters in a film set in the USA are American nationals. Or, that an explanation in the story is needed to tell the audience where any "foreign" sounding character is from. The USA is a cosmopolis.
Reviews
5 Reviews
I Want Your Love
(2012)
As clueless as the characters.
19 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Reportedly, this movie fleshes out the plot begun in the 2010 short film also entitled "I Want Your Love" by the same director. It centres on a going-away party for Jesse (Jesse Metzger). Jesse will be leaving his friends in Frisco and returning to the American Midwest. However, this story turned out to be about nothing of note really. There was a bunch of shallow, thirty-something grown men who were still behaving like teenagers. They were talking like silly nelly queens of the 1980s era, with their outrageously campy, sissified banter, pointless potty-mouth dialogue, and clueless lives. American sitcoms is what it reminded me of, the outdated, melodramatic caricatures and stereotypes of people and overblown clichés. Jesse is full of Angst and doesn't know what to do with himself. What am I going to do, I don't know, Oh woe is me, and so on. This was laughable, coming from a man of his age. Maybe that was the point of this movie? It was a comedy? Mr. Matthews did a better job with the 2010 short film forerunner, a snapshot of the lives of two men who up to that time had enjoyed a long platonic friendship without strings. That one had humour, drama and sex too, yet also a more meaningful story. To me, anyway.
Mulligans
(2008)
Chase and new "friend" Jarod
1 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This is a great story about, on the one hand, newly found love and friendship, but on the other hand, it's sadly about betrayal of friendship, damaging secrets and, let's face it, adultery, and the break up of a long-standing and seemingly happy marriage. With all this going on, perhaps it was better for the director to focus on Nathan (Dan Payne), Chase (Charlie David) and the Davidsons, and less on what as a subplot was happening between Chase and his new buddy Jarod (Anthony Joseph). Out-takes that I saw on YouTube, if restored to the film would clarify the "mateship" between Chase & Jarod, which was not wholly chaste. The director Chip Hale has stated that in the end, he chose to make Jarod straight, so a few scenes were taken out. Amongst them, was the scene where Chase & Jarod are tossing a football around at the barbecue. Before the cut, Jarod tackles Chase to the grass where he ends up on top of Chase kissing him, and a girl who went to get a drink for herself and Chase quietly stumbles upon them. Another outdoor scene showed Jarod pawing Chase who was torn now between his feelings for Jarod and Nathan, so Chase backs away from Jarod saying he "needs time" to sort things out.
Yet in my mind, Jarod was queer from the beginning. Didn't you believe so? If one listens carefully, watches what happens when Jarod's around and reads between the lines of what's left in Mr. Hale's cut, there are enough hints that Jarod fancies Chase, and when the dust settles, he drives away with him.
Yet in my mind, Jarod was queer from the beginning. Didn't you believe so? If one listens carefully, watches what happens when Jarod's around and reads between the lines of what's left in Mr. Hale's cut, there are enough hints that Jarod fancies Chase, and when the dust settles, he drives away with him.
Perfidia
(2009)
Brilliant!
1 May 2014
Rodrigo Bellott really shows his talent as a filmmaker and artist in this film Perfidia ("Perfidy") of 2009. This is a decidedly cerebral film, an intellectual's delight and it's ideal for those who enjoy challenges trying to figure it all out. Many clues are subtle and the film may have to be watched more than once to catch many of them which hint at the mystery about what on earth is going on. Stunning ending too. Really brilliant! The plot lacked speed however: a great deal of time was spent in one spot, but after finding out more about the protagonist Gustavo, splendidly portrayed by Gonzalo Valenzuela, and what he might be up to, it makes sense that the drama did not stray far its location.
There are other characters in this dark story who play a vital role in the plot, but they are seemingly peripheral in the presentation; this is really an analysis of the psyche and heart of one individual, Gus. Ironically, even when it becomes clear that a crime is in the making, the director forces the watcher to see things from a criminal's vantage point, feel his pain, and desire a good resolution for him.
There are other characters in this dark story who play a vital role in the plot, but they are seemingly peripheral in the presentation; this is really an analysis of the psyche and heart of one individual, Gus. Ironically, even when it becomes clear that a crime is in the making, the director forces the watcher to see things from a criminal's vantage point, feel his pain, and desire a good resolution for him.
Triple Crossed
(2013)
For type of film, surprisingly good
2 April 2014
For a movie filmed with a relatively small purse, Mr. Lockhart's "Triple Crossed" was surprisingly good. These were the nice surprises, to my reckoning: First, unlike too many low-cost films I've seen before, the settings here were brightly lit. The scenes were not dull and fuzzy, but sharp and clear, even during night scenes with long shadows. Second, no mike boom slid into the picture frame, or any such A/V or technical blunders. So after a few minutes, I relaxed to enjoy the picture for what it was worth. If you are wanting "Oscar" material, then stay away. However, if you are looking for a suspense drama once in a while, to be amused and entertained, as I do, then you already know pretty much what to look for, and you may find this one is just as good as any other of that type--and better than many of them.
Third, the plot was realistic; intrigues such as those dealt with here have been used in film before, and things like that do happen even in real life. Yet there are enough twists to keep one guessing about the outcome. Who will be "triple-crossed"?
Fourth, the blocking was technically flawless, frankly. The camera seemed to catch the action meant to be caught, and the characters' positions did not clash with that. There were few, if any, fancy angles or such, nor were any needed for this film. Quite enough was going on in the story that such devices would have been lost here. Too bad though that the view of the valley had not been more panoramic. During the hiking scene, on the ridge, I wanted the camera to swing 180 degrees around to take in that gorgeous landscape of the valley!
Fifth, the script was standard for this genre: no words of wisdom or memorable phrases. But therefore it also wasn't overwrought, too expository, or "preachy" (thank God!). Overall, I was entertained, and that was the whole point of watching it.
Third, the plot was realistic; intrigues such as those dealt with here have been used in film before, and things like that do happen even in real life. Yet there are enough twists to keep one guessing about the outcome. Who will be "triple-crossed"?
Fourth, the blocking was technically flawless, frankly. The camera seemed to catch the action meant to be caught, and the characters' positions did not clash with that. There were few, if any, fancy angles or such, nor were any needed for this film. Quite enough was going on in the story that such devices would have been lost here. Too bad though that the view of the valley had not been more panoramic. During the hiking scene, on the ridge, I wanted the camera to swing 180 degrees around to take in that gorgeous landscape of the valley!
Fifth, the script was standard for this genre: no words of wisdom or memorable phrases. But therefore it also wasn't overwrought, too expository, or "preachy" (thank God!). Overall, I was entertained, and that was the whole point of watching it.
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